Daniel Coker
Encyclopedia
Daniel Coker born Isaac Wright, was an African American
and the first Methodist missionary
to the British
colony of Sierra Leone
.
mother and a black slave father (though some sources suggest a white indentured servant father and a black slave mother) in Baltimore
. Coker was educated with his white half brothers in Maryland
with some 84 other Black Americans in an attempt by the ACS
to establish and settle a colony at Sherbro
. Coker was leader of the colony during its despair and he ensured the survival of the remaining few colonists when the time called for it.
a newly established village for Sierra Leone Liberated Africans
. Coker became the patriarch of a prominent Krio
family the Cokers. Coker's son, Daniel Coker Jr. was a prominent man in the town of Freetown and the Cokers and their descendants still reside inside Freetown as one of the prominent Krio
families. Henry McNeal Turner elaborated on this when he said 'It would seem, from all I can learn, that Coker played a prominent part in the early settlement of Liberia. The first Methodist Church established here was the African M. E. Church; but by whom established I cannot say. Tradition says it was afterward sold out to the M. E. Church. Besides the probability of Rev. Daniel Coker's having established our church here, he also played a mighty part among the early settlers of Sierra Leone. His children and grandchildren are found there to-day.'
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and the first Methodist missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colony of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
.
Early life
Daniel Coker was born a slave in 1780 in Baltimore, Maryland, to a white Indentured servantIndentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
mother and a black slave father (though some sources suggest a white indentured servant father and a black slave mother) in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. Coker was educated with his white half brothers in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
Immigration to Sierra Leone
In 1820, Coker immigrated to Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
with some 84 other Black Americans in an attempt by the ACS
ACS
-Companies and commerce:* ACS:Law, a British law firm specialising in intellectual property cases* Advanced Composites Solutions, engineering company specialized in composite materials technology...
to establish and settle a colony at Sherbro
Sherbro
Sherbro can refer to:* The Sherbro people in Sierra Leone* Sherbro Island, off the coast of Sierra Leone* Sherbro River in Sierra Leone* Short for Sherbrooke...
. Coker was leader of the colony during its despair and he ensured the survival of the remaining few colonists when the time called for it.
Descendants
Coker, his wife, and his children settled in Hastings, Sierra LeoneHastings, Sierra Leone
Hastings is a town located in the Western Area of Sierra Leone and a suburb of Freetown, the nation's capital. It population was estimated at 15,054 . Hastings lies just 15 miles to central Freetown...
a newly established village for Sierra Leone Liberated Africans
Sierra Leone Liberated Africans
The Sierra Leone Liberated Africans were slaves freed by the British Royal Navy from slave ships on the high seas and brought to Freetown, now Sierra Leone's capital city. The Sierra Leone Creole Settlers and West Indian immigrants called the liberated Africans "Willyfoss niggers"....
. Coker became the patriarch of a prominent Krio
Krio
Krio may refer to:*Sierra Leone Krio people*Krio language, language of the Sierra Leone Krio people*Krio Dayak people, an ethnic group in West Kalimantan, Indonesia*Krio Dayak language*Keriau River, in West Kalimantan, Indonesia...
family the Cokers. Coker's son, Daniel Coker Jr. was a prominent man in the town of Freetown and the Cokers and their descendants still reside inside Freetown as one of the prominent Krio
Krio
Krio may refer to:*Sierra Leone Krio people*Krio language, language of the Sierra Leone Krio people*Krio Dayak people, an ethnic group in West Kalimantan, Indonesia*Krio Dayak language*Keriau River, in West Kalimantan, Indonesia...
families. Henry McNeal Turner elaborated on this when he said 'It would seem, from all I can learn, that Coker played a prominent part in the early settlement of Liberia. The first Methodist Church established here was the African M. E. Church; but by whom established I cannot say. Tradition says it was afterward sold out to the M. E. Church. Besides the probability of Rev. Daniel Coker's having established our church here, he also played a mighty part among the early settlers of Sierra Leone. His children and grandchildren are found there to-day.'
Sources
- http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/turneral/turner.html
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/740557.stm
- http://books.google.com/books?id=oQ8BFk9K0ToC&pg=PA143&dq=daniel+coker+indentured+servant&sig=XRh0WyfYWUXujzMixO8thhv7zfs
- Becoming African in America: Race and Nation in the Early Black Atlantic by James Sidbury
- Journal of Daniel Coker, a Descendant of Africa: From the Time of Leaving By Daniel Coker
- http://books.google.com/books?id=Q29GUexeQUkC&pg=PA52&dq=daniel+coker&sig=x4qSkSXXE92D3pGmjHtbAJVMmRw
- http://books.google.com/books?id=FacPOolFwuEC&pg=PA110&dq=daniel+coker+indentured+servant&sig=VvAURhWimWGgVN0RTCxNno9IrJY
- Chapter 7 "Edward Jones: An African American in Sierra Leone" in Moving On: Black Loyalists in the Afro-Atlantic World by Nemata Blyden
- http://www.hastingsandryecons.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=97
- http://www.hastingsbme.org.uk/newsletter/BMESpring07new.pdf
- http://books.google.com/books?id=jP2HNMnGWtAC&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=daniel+coker+sierra+leone&source=web&ots=cCjP_b8-Ra&sig=-mgv_rtdTM-hyKRgCmAuSgFPAGs
- http://books.google.com/books?id=dDwUFhl-4EMC&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=daniel+coker+sierra+leone&source=web&ots=07lfWaerhG&sig=GY-RQN3gukif6NO3K6ZiRWVZuy4
- http://books.google.com/books?id=l4MJOi7WNgcC&pg=PA108&lpg=PA108&dq=daniel+coker+sierra+leone&source=web&ots=iDbVMqOr9w&sig=XTvTX16mwJNhLbacA2TPd0hdzE4